Method of preparing watermarking plates



March 10, 1931. V H. BROWN 1,796,080

METHOD OF PREPARING WATERMARKING PLATES Filed May 15. 1930 Wawari Brawn f9! WW v fwwrk 'w j Patented Mar. 19, 1931 snrrs Application filed 1/.Zay 15, 1930.

This invention relates to a method of prearin water-markin plates for use in a to L ' in a partially dried and still plastic condition. By the application of the plate in this manner and at this point in the formation of the paper, very fine and intricate designs may be produced on the paper. it is necessary, however, that the impression su ace of the water-markin plate be extremely accurate and uniform, as any slight variation in thickness or adjustment of the plate is clearly seen in the paper.

"In my prior Patent No. 1,362,598, issued December 21, 1920, l have described a machine in which water-marking plates may be proved and justilied.

My present invention relates to an improved method or" procedure by which such plates may be more effectively prepared for use.

It is the general object 01" my invention to improve the method heretofore practiced in preparing water-marking plates for use, to the intent that more perfect impressions may be attained.

Myinvention relates particularly to the improved method hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A. machine by the aid of which the process may be carried out is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view or" the machine; and

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views illustrating the carrying out of my improved process.

Referring to Fig. 1, l have shown a base 10 mounted upon rollers 11 and aeapted to beguided by rails 12 toward and from a paper-making machine. A bed roll l l 1s mounted in bearings 15 supported in end frame members 16. The roll 1% is preferably formed 01 metal and in any event is provided with a smooth hard surface.

PMTZNT .FFEE

HOWABD BROEVN, GE LONGMEADOW, MASS iO'EIUSET'I'S, ASSIGNOR TO SOUTHWORTH COMPANY, OF MITTINLAGUE, MASSACZ .11 CGREGRA'IION MASSACHU- IIIETHOID OF E'REPARIIIG "WATER-M AEKIIIG PLATES Serial No. 452,796.

A marking roll 20 is mounted above the roll 14 and is provided with bearings 21 slidable in the guideways of the end frame 16. The bearings 21 are pressed downward by weights 22 acting through levers 23 and plungers 24.

Any simple means may be used for limiting the approach of the marking roll 20 to the bed roll 14. F or instance, a wedge 26 may be interposed between the bearings 15 21 and may be adjusted crosswise of the frame 16 by an adjusting screw having a hand wheel 28 by which it may be turned.

T he rolls 1% and 20 are provided with connecti" g gears 30, so that they may be rotated in unison. The bed roll 14 is also provided with a hand wheel 31 and with a pulley 32, connected by a belt 33 to a pulley 34: on the armature shaft of a motor M.

'lhe marking roll 20 and bearings 21 form part of the usual equipment of the watermarking attachment of a papermaking machine and' are removed bodily from the paper-ma ring machine when stereotype plates are to be applied thereto or justilied for use. The bed roll 14- and bearings 15 may also form a part of the marking attachment of a paper-making machine but more commonly the roll 1 1 remains as a permanent part of the proving machine.

My improved method of perfecting and justifying the water-mar ring plates is preferably carried out as follows I first attach the plates 40 to the marking roll 20 by the usual screws or in any other convenient manner. I then run a stri or web oi"- paper V] (Fig. 2) between the rolls 1% and 20 and adjust the bearings 0-1": the marking-roll so that the plates can engage the paper.

I then turn the rolls back and forth by the hand wheel 31 to test the impression, and I carry out the usual steps of building up the low places on the plates by inserting thin j ections, and I now proceed to break-in? the new plates by removing the paper V and rotating the rolls for a considerable period by means of the motor M, with the plates 40in direct engagement with the smooth hard surface of the bed roll 14. In this way the surface ofv the electrotype plates is smoothed out by rolling engagement with the surface of the bed roll, and the uniformity and accuracy of theimpression ismuch improved.

During this operation, the wedges maybe slightly withdrawn to permit a more firm contact between the rolls." After rotating the rolls in this way for a sufficient period, the

' the advantages thereof, I .do not wish. to be,

web of paper is again introduced and further proving. and justification is carried out, after which further .breaking-in follows, if

found desirable;

By thus alternating the justifying and the breaking-1n steps, the plates are quickly worked down toa smooth uniform working surface, so positioned that a substantially perfect impression may be obtained. This resultls much more quickly and easlly produced than by the methods heretofore practiced. v r 7 My improvedmethod is not only applicable tojustifying-and breakingin a plurality ofnew stereotype plates, but is also useful when one or two worn or damaged plates of a series are replaced by new plates. It hasbeen found heretofore that the new plates would produce a sharper impression and a different appearance from plates which had been'used for a longer or shorter period. By, placingthe marking roll in the proving new plates by rotation against the bed roll, the impressionsof the oldand new plates may be quickly equalized, so that the inser- I tion of new plates will not be evident.

Having thus 7 described my invention and limited to the details hereindisclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is j 1. The method of preparing water-marking plates for use in a paper-making machine which consists in mounting the water-markmg, plates upon a markmgroll, proving and justifying the surface of the plates-with respect to an associatedbed roll and with respect to aweb of plastic paper material passedbetween said plates and said bed roll, and in thereafter rotating said rolls for a substantial period with said water-marking plates directly engaging the smooth hard spect to an associated bed roll and with respect 'to a web of plastic paper material passed between said plates and said bed roll, in thereafter rotating said rolls for a substantial period with said water-marking plates directly engaging the smooth hard surface of the bed roll, and in repeating said justifying and said rotating operations until satisfactory and uniform impression surfaces on said plates are produced.

3. The method of preparing water-mark ing plates for use in a paper-making machine period of time;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' HOWARD BROWN.

v machine abovedescribed and breaking-in the 7 surface of the bed roll, whereby all parts of r the impression surfaces of said plates are brought into effective marking alignment.

' 2. The method of preparing water-markin'g plates for use in a paper-making machine which, consists in mounting the-watermarkingplates upon a marking roll, proving and justifying the surfaceof the plates with re- 

